Trio con Brio Copenhagen, formed in Vienna in 1999 by the Korean sisters Soo-Jin Hong and Soo-Kyung Hong and the Danish pianist Jens Elvekjaer, drew attention by the sensational success at the ARD-competition in Munich. In September 2005, the Trio con Brio Copenhagen received the prestigious Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson International Trio Award in the United States. The award includes a CD-recording and an extensive tour of 20 major U.S. venues including Carnegie Hall.

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Formed in 1984 by four prize-winning graduates of the Paris Conservatory, the Parisii Quartet won early acclaim with its triumphs at the Banff, Munich and Evian international competitions. Noted for its performances of distinctive and unusual repertoire of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, the Parisii has distinguished itself with recordings of intriguing works by French composers. Hailed in concert halls across Europe, Asia and North America, the Parisii Quartet makes a welcome return to Kohl Mansion.

Musicologist Kai Christiansen will speak about the program at 6 pm.

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We celebrate the season in the magically decorated Kohl Mansion with musicians from the San Francisco Symphony and the return of pianist Robin Sutherland and violist Geraldine Walther. Followed by a festive holiday reception with the artists.

This program is a special non-subscription event and is not a part of our Chamber Music Series

Founded 25 years ago in New York, the Alexander String Quartet has secured its standing among the world's premier ensembles. Now at home in San Francisco, the Alexander is a major artistic presence, serving as Ensemble-in-Residence of San Francisco Performances and directors of San Francisco State University's Morrison Chamber Music Center. Widely admired for its interpretations of Beethoven, Mozart and Shostakovich, the Quartet is also an ad-vocate of new music, with numerous commissions and premières. Active in Music at Kohl's in-schools programs for over a decade, the Alexander returns to our Chamber Series by popular demand.

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Formed in 1999, the Amelia Piano Trio (Anthea Kreston, violin, Jason Duckles, cello, and Rieko Aizawa, piano) has established a glowing international reputation. Called "remarkable" by Strings and "exemplary" by The Strad, the group has quickly become one of its generation's most sought-after ensembles. The Trio has performed extensively in North America, France, Italy, Panama, and the Caribbean, and toured North America and Central Asia with Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Project

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Praised for its "stunning technical expertise, outstanding ensemble and a particularly accomplished musical identity", the Amedeo Modigliani Quartet won the 2006 Young Concert Artists International Auditions in New York after winning First Prize in the 2005 Young Concert Artists European Auditions in Paris. Formed in 2003 at the Paris Conservatory, the Modigliani has already performed at renowned festivals and concert venues in Europe. Kohl audiences will hear these sensational young musicians between their Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall débuts that same week, and before they take the world by storm!

Musicologist Kai Christiansen will speak about the program at 6 pm.

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The Bay Area's own all-star trio comes "home" to Kohl Mansion. The FOG Trio was founded in 1984 by world-renowned pianist Garrick Ohlsson, Minnesota Orchestra concertmaster Jorja Fleezanis (former S.F. Symphony associate concertmaster) and S.F. Symphony principal cellist Michael Grebanier. Whenever these three friends take time from their busy individual careers to perform as the FOG Trio, we are guaranteed an evening of magic that reflects their great joy in playing together. Their visits to Music at Kohl are always cause for celebration. Musicologist Michael Steinberg, well-known to Bay Area music lovers, will introduce the program.

One of the most active ensembles on the international scene, the Vilnius Quartet returns after a two-year absence. The Vilnius has toured in 50 countries and performs 80 concerts each year at home and abroad. The Quartet has played at many music festivals on several continents and has recorded more than 40 LPs and CDs. Performing new works by composers from various countries world-wide, the Quartet also avidly promotes the music of its own country. These prolific musicians from the historic capital city of Lithuania are distinguished by a repertoire of more than 450 chamber works.

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